Jos Kellenaers, property development manager at B-Right Urban Living

The Campus 076 student accommodation complex stands proudly beside Avans University of Applied Sciences and Breda University of Applied Sciences. A contemporary new structure where 120 students live and study. “The building was completed in the summer of

Campus 076 in Breda contains 120 fully fitted and furnished independent studios measuring 24 by 36 m². Kellenaers: “We have plenty of experience with student accommodation and manage a number of complexes in student cities such as Eindhoven and Delft. We bought this building from construction company VolkerWessels before it was built. It was in the final phase of development phase, about to go on site. That meant we were still able to influence the design, ensuring that our needs and wishes could be taken on board.”

 

Affordable living thanks to efficient design

The design is not particularly striking or extravagant, Kellenaers points out. “It’s a clear, functional building for young people, and that’s exactly what we wanted. This simplicity influences the construction costs, allowing us to offer affordable student accommodation. That’s also what the market demands. It’s a practical building with an optimal arrangement of room, bathroom, kitchen, installations and shared living space. This building could not have been more efficient in terms of design.”
 

Expertise at implementation level

The construction of Campus 076 proceeded very smoothly, says Kellenaers. “That was also down to the skill of the architect, that the design can be built. Architects can dream up all sorts of fancy frills, but in the end they have to be built. Some architects get stuck bogged down at the design or detailing level, but the expertise of EGM extends right through to construction. As a result, only occasionally did the architect have to visit the site during construction, for instance to inspect the connection between the brickwork and the aluminium profiles around the frames. All other matters could be resolved by phone. It’s a buildable design, and that’s very reassuring.”

 

This building could not have been much more efficient in terms of design

 

Creating social connections

The design paid particular attention to social space, which is an important aspect of student complexes owned by B-Right Urban Living. “In each building we want to create social connections. They enhance the quality of living. Hence the seating areas in various places where students can meet one another or study together. Campus 076 even boasts a games room with a seating area, television, ping-pong table, darts board and pantry. Next to the building there’s also a grass area with picnic tables. All those facilities add value to this concept, making it a hip and happening place to live.”

 

Ideal concept for other target groups

Kellenaers stresses that it was a deliberate decision to develop compact living units with shared facilities. “Everybody is aware of the need for affordable housing. More and more people like small homes, as long as they are in a social setting that offers opportunities. The Campus 076 concept could therefore be deployed for other target groups such as first-time buyers and young professionals. Or even seniors, who often have few social contacts. With this concept you can provide relatively affordable homes because you build them in a highly compact way. And residents share facilities, which stimulates social contact.”

 

_{Maud van Gennip, writer and copywriter, interviewed Jos Kellenaers in September 2021}

_{Project: Studentenwoningen Campus 076}